I've been a lazy horse owner I admit since buying my gelding last September. I've been in lessons and leasing horses/riding ottb sale horses for the past 11 years. I'd consider myself an intermediate to advanced-intermediate rider and am confident I can use things learned through CA methods and apply them correctly.
After buying my gelding who's basically broke just needs some polishing up but can be ridden by a complete beginner perfectly. I just want to further develop my relationship with him through training as opposed to just riding around and grooming/grazing.
My question is where do I start? Being practical here...I'm a college student with no financial support from my parents. I WISH I was one of the lucky girls who's parents paid for big pretty jumpers and lessons. I have his shows being tivod but I'm more of a read research kinda girl. Are there any specific books to look for on Amazon? Or am I stuck shelling out the money to his websitePosted via Mobile Device

If your horse is behaving well as is, then there is no need to do more. But if you see something that needs addressing, that's different.
Is it that he is not respectful of your space? Doesn't lead well? Doesn't recognize the bit /rein aids? Is there something wrong?

It is not required to do CA stuff to have a good riding horse. Many riders never do any Nat. Horsemanship stuff and have great relationships and great rides.
It is only a matter for consideration if you feel there is something lacking.

You might start looking at Ebay, you can find almost anything there. Plus, I saw mention the other day of a place that is like Netflix but for horse training videos. I can't remember what the name of the place was but it might be worth looking for.

You sound like me few years ago! I felt a lot of the same way with my gelding. Get Clinton Anderson's "Downunder Horsemanship Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders". It's only about $21 hardcover and you can usually find it cheaper on Ebay or Amazon. It is a book of fundamentals, even if your horse knows the excercises, there is SO much information that is helpful besides just the "how to". It turned my "I do it because I'm suppose to" horse into a "I do it because I enjoy spending time with her" horse!

You sound like me few years ago! I felt a lot of the same way with my gelding. Get Clinton Anderson's "Downunder Horsemanship Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders". It's only about $21 hardcover and you can usually find it cheaper on Ebay or Amazon. It is a book of fundamentals, even if your horse knows the excercises, there is SO much information that is helpful besides just the "how to". It turned my "I do it because I'm suppose to" horse into a "I do it because I enjoy spending time with her" horse!

I'll second this book recommendation if you're wanting a nice, step-by-step overview of basic CA exercises and method. Probably the most reasonably priced way to get a bead on things, aside from RFD, and a very readable book.

However, I very much agree with Tiny that, unless you have a behavioral issue or a hole in training that needs patched, there's really no great need to set out and find a trainer or boxed method to guide you in order to have a solid relationship with your horse. It shouldn't hurt anything to go through the motions, but often miles under hoof and wet saddle blankets do more than any method can. Just get out there and enjoy your horse, and he'll enjoy you, too!

If you get RFDTV, just watch his show. It's on every week on Tuesdays (I think) at noon and again at 5:00. It's the same stuff as on the DVDs for the most part. While I like Clinton, his training methods are very repetitive, so no sense paying for what you can watch for free.

I don't know, but the OP may not have the experience or knowledge to polish up some of the things that she believes the gelding could do better and, therefore, is looking for somewhere to get ideas on the finer points of handling/training/riding.

If you're looking for a different way to connect with him through something other than riding, well, set to work on ground work!

There are so many things you can work on while on the ground--if not more than when riding! When done right, exercises on the ground can help the horse gain a lot of respect for you and your space. As well as you being able to learn how to read a horse and his body language.

I am very into Anderson and his ground work methods. Do some research online for his books and if you have the RFD-TV channel, you can watch him on there.

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